Rotatably mounted exercising device with support frames



Sept. 1, 1970 e. HJELTE 3,526,399

ROTATABLY MQUNTED EXERCISING DEVICE WITH SUPPORT FRAMES,

Filed April 21, 1967 2 Sheets-FSheet 1 George Hjelfe,

INVENTOR.

, AGENT. v

ROTATABLY MOUNTED EXERCISING DEVICE WITH SUPPORT FRAMES Filed April 21, 1967 G. HJELTE Sept.- 1, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R O 7... H M m N kww E United States Patent Of 3,526,399 ROTATABLY MOUNTED EXERCISIN G DEVICE WITH SUPPORT FRAMES George Hjelte, 4468 Dundee Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. 90027 Filed Apr. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 632,759 Int. Cl. A63b 21/00 US. Cl. 272-60 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand crank device supported for rotation in bushings which are easily inserted or removed from a position on a supporting member such as a door opening, with the support of the bushings comprising easily removable clamps which engage the upper trim above the door opening or on a diving board to support the load of the exercise device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed toward a portable arm exercising device which is capable of quick installation and removal, as well as support by a standard door jamb,

while at the same time supporting the weight of a human being with sufficient rigidity to allow the mechanism to be rotated by the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view showing the general configuration of one embodiment of this invention shown supported on a door frame;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing details of the support structure for the configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged showing of the support bushing of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a modified support structure for the device shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the invention capable of support on an ordinary support frame for a backyard swing set;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the bushing used in the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an adjustable spacer for the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view showing another embodiment of the invention capable of support on a wall;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the pivot detail of the device of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a view of the device of FIG. 8 in position on a diving board.

In the views of the drawings similar parts bear like reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In practicing this invention, there is shown in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the invention supported on a door jamb and provided with a pivot member arranged to be self-propelled by a human operator through rotation of the pivot member in its support bearings. The device, as

3,526,399 Patented Sept. 1, 1970 shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a main pivot member 1 having a pair of adjacent opposed ofiset throws 2 and 3 which terminate at opposite ends of the pivot member 1 in aligned pivot pin portions 4 and 5, respectively. The pivot pin portions 4 and 5 are received within support blocks 6, which are supported on a door jamb 8 by spring support hangers 9. The offset throws 2 and 3 are provided with suitable sleeve type handholds mounted for free rotation on the pivot member 1. Each of the support blocks 6 are similar and shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each support block 6 is provided with a bearing opening 11 to receive the pivot pins 4 and 5 therein, a groove 12 for receiving the hanger support member such as the hanger 9, and a vertically displaced slot 13 which is designed to engage the door stop 14 to prevent rotation of the bearing member 6. The support blocks 6 are made of any suitable material, such as nylon or a hard wood, for the purpose of allowing for relatively low friction in rotation of the pivot pin portions 4 and 5 within the support blocks. The support hanger 9 can be described as a spring steel U-shaped member having inwardly turned ends, such as 15 and 16, which are in opposed relationship and which can be sprung apart and allowed to engage the trim boards 8 for support of the exercise device within a door jamb.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the support hanger 9 comprises a U-shaped strap member having inturned ends 15 and 16 in opposing relationship. However, the hanger 9 is now provided with a securing bolt 17 for preventing the ends 15 and 16 from disengaging the trim board 8, thus providing a more permanent installation. The bolt 17 is inserted in suitable openings in opposing sides of the hanger 9 and tightened down until the in-turned ends 15 and 16 firmly engage the trim 8 above the door. The ,device of FIG. 4 can be further secured against end to end movement by a bolt 32 with adjustable nuts 33 for adjusting its length as shown in FIG. 7. The pivot block for this configuration, however, is secured between the opposing sides of the U-shaped hanger 9 by bolt 19 and is provided with an upward facing slot 20 for receiving the pivot ends 4 and 5 of the crank arm .1.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 involves a frame member 20 of channel shape to be supported by the end A-frame of a standard swing set. The frame member 20 has a horizontal portion 21 which extends across the span of the A-frame members of the standard swing set, shown in phantom lines, and the horizontal portion 21 is provided with down-turned portions 22 and 23 having an angle parallel to the phantom A-frame portion of the standard swing set, with the ends of the portions 22 and 23 being turned further downward to form vertical extensions 24 and 25, respectively, each of which is provided with pivot block supporting ends formed by upturning and forming a U-shaped end to the frame member 20 as at 26. The end of the up-turned portion 26 extends upward sufiiciently far to provide a cup at each end of the channel support member 20 of sufiicient size to receive a bearing block 6. Each bearing block is provided with an opening 11, such as shown by the block in FIG. 3, and which contains a suitable bearing surface for receiving the crank arm 1 or may be of a standard ball or roller type (not shown).

Referring again to FIG. 5, it is noted that the channel shaped support member 20 is provided with an opening 27 at the upper end of the vertical portion 24 which is for the purpose of allowing the pivot arm 1 to be inserted through one of the blocks 6 (shown in FIG. 6) out through the hole 27 to allow the other extreme end to engage the opening 11 within the opposite block, with the pivot arm 1 then being moved horizontally into the opposite block sufiiciently far to allow it to disengage the opening 27 and move (along with its block 6) down into the cup formed at the end of the vertical member 24. The whole device is then supported on the A-frame of the swing device by the U bolts 28.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 comprises a frame 25 having V-shaped ends 25a and 25b connected together by straight side portions 250 in order that one of the straight portions 25c can be supported by suitable hooks 30 secured to a wall. In this position the V-shaped ends extend outwardly away from the wall and with support blocks 6 secured in the apex of each of the V-shaped ends 25a and 2512, as shown in FIG. 9, the pivot member 1 is clear of the wall and available for use.

In FIG. 10 the embodiment of the device of FIG. 8 is positioned over a diving board 31 with the V-shaped ends 25a and 25b extending downward below the board 31 to provide for pivot member 1 use while the operators body is partially supported by the water in the pool under the board.

In FIGS. 1 and 7 the pivot member 1 is a steel tube about 28 inches long, bent like a crankshaft for its revolvement in a horizontal plane by a turning action of the operators two hands. Its ends are inserted in bearings in support blocks 6 which are aflixed to the jamb 8 of an open doorway by brackets or support hangers 9 which hang from the moulding which usually frames a doorway. The pivot member 1 is at the approximate height of the top of the users head. The user may hang with two hands from the crankshaft, preferably in a chinning position, making the pivot member revolve to the extent desired.

With feet off the ground this is a rather strenuous exercise taxing the muscles of arms, shoulder girdle, trunk and legs (all of the big muscles of the body) and is developmental of the entire body. The exercise is terminated at the will of the user, thus avoiding overstrain.

To the extent that one is not able to rotate the shaft while hanging, the feet may remain on the fioor or ground with so much of the weight of the body sustained by the arms as suits ones strength and inclination. The device is, therefore, adaptable to both sexes and all ages and all degrees of physical capacity and may serve as a body conditioner and developer.

The simple device has other adaptations to structures other than the open doorway by varying the means for its support, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. It may be in- 4 stalled against a wall, as in a garage, gymnasium, swimming pool cabana, or a pool diving board (31), with the pair of bearings in support blocks 6 in the apex of the V- shaped ends of the frame 25 which extends the pivot mem her 1 about twelve inches from the support wall, the pivot member 1 again at head height or below the board of a swimming pool. In this pool position it is not only a fun device, but is also useful to persons of limited arm strength but needing exercise adjusted to their capacity, but also to certain physically handicapped persons, including paraplegics. The therapeutic uses of the device are apparent.

I claim:

1. A self-propelled arm and shoulder development device comprising:

(a) a rotatable crank member having aligned end portions and intermediate oppositely offset portions;

(b) a pair of readily detachable slotted end wall engaging support blocks having detachably attached thereto two U-shaped members with oppositely inturned hook ends whereby the U-shaped members are readily installed to engage with an overhead support surface, said blocks being spaced apart to receive the aligned end portions of the rotatable crank, each of the said U-shaped members supporting a single bearing block; and

(c) hand grip means mounted on said intermediate oppositely offset portions of the crank for free rotation thereon.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 where said support blocks comprise vertically disposed grooves for en gaging the door stop of a standard door jamb.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the U-shaped members are biased toward each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,126,857 2/1915 Platt 272.61 1,548,175 8/1925 Roseborough 272-62 1,386,206 8/1921 Samuelson 27273 3,056,603 10/1962 Levine et al. 272-73 XR 3,058,742 10/ 1962 Jaife 27273 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 110,125 5/ 1925 Switzerland.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 272-66, 79, 

